Headaches are of the most common and problematic body pains you can experience. Headaches can interfere in your routine and limit your productivity. They can deeply impact your quality of living. Headaches are a source of tension for you and your loved ones. Modern medical science has identified various types of headaches, their causes, symptoms and treatment methods.

In this article, we will highlight the various types of headaches you can experience and identify the symptoms, causes and the treatments you can use to get rid of them. We will also explain some interesting causes of headaches that are common to all types of headaches.

Categories of Headaches

Medical science has identified over three hundred types of different headaches based on their characteristics. It is impossible to list down all the three hundred types at one place. For the ease of use, the headaches are divided into three broad categories.

If you are suffering from a headache, it is very important to identify which type of headache are you suffering and in which broad category it falls in. The three broad categories are

Tension Headaches

These are the most common type of headaches people suffer from nowadays. Tension headaches begin in teenage and it has been reported that women suffer more from these headaches than men. The main reasons behind suffering from tension-type headaches are stress, muscular spasms, and strain in the neck and head region.

Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches are another common type of headache and begin when you are in puberty. These headaches last for a lifetime and can often return once they have diminished. Migraine headaches are chronic and are characterized by pain in one side of the head. The frequency and severity of the migraine headaches differ from one person to another. Migraine headache often gets worse with physical activity and has the ability to last from hours to days.

Cluster Headache

A less common category of headaches, cluster headaches happen to people over the age of 20 and are found in men more than as compared to women. Severe headaches, pain in the eyes, redness, and water from eyes are the common characteristics of cluster headaches.

Headache Location Chart

It is very important to identify the headache according to its location, its causes, and symptoms and treat them accordingly. The following table explains some of the common headaches

Sr. #

Type of Headache

Location

Causes

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

1

Migraine

One sided

Genetical factors

Severe pain

Medicines

Calcium blockers

Top & back of head

Smoking

Nausea

Caffeine

Biofeedback

Weather

Cold Hands

Ice Compress

Altitude

Numbness in arms and legs

Steroids

Emotional stress

Light sensitivity

Analgesics

Certain foods

2

Allergy Headache

Generalized in head

Allergens

Nasal congestion

Nasal Sprays

None

Watery Eyes

Antihistamine

Desensitization Injections

3

Cluster Headache

Pain in one eye

Excessive smoking

Flushing of the face

Inhaling oxygen

Steroids

Abuse of alcohol

Pain may develop during sleeping

Local Anesthetics

Calcium channel blockers

Restlessness

Stuffed nose on the affected side

4

Tension Headache

Forehead

Emotional stress

Tightness of scalp and neck

Painkillers

Antidepressants

Top of the head

Depression

Tightness of whole head

Staying stress-free

Dull aching headache

5

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Headache

Temples

Jaw muscle problems

Pain or clicking in jaws

Relaxing jaw muscles

Same as treatment

Sideburns

Too-much chewing

Sleeping properly

6

Sinus Headache

Pain in sinus and forehead

Sinus allergy and infections

Blockage of sinus ducts

Antibiotics

None

Nasal blockages

Fever

Surgical drainage (severe cases)

Decongestants

7

Hypertension Headache

Generalized in head

High blood pressure

Severe headache

Blood pressure regulation medicines

Control of blood pressure

Stress

Blurry Vision

Painkillers

Tension

Chest pain

8

Giant Cell Arteritis Headache

Around the ears

Inflammation of temporal arteries

Temporal headache

Steroids

None

Jaw pain

Vision Problems

Weight loss

9

Medication Overuse Headache

Migraine Style

Side effects of any medicine

Dull headache

Quitting the medicines that cause headache

Carefully choosing medicines

Around the Head

Addiction to any drug

Chronic

10

Post-traumatic Headache

Migraine Style

After a severe trauma

Mild or moderate headache

Anti-seizures

Counselling after trauma

Around the Head

Shock, accident, loss in life

Nausea

anti-hypertensives

Same as treatments

11

Arthritis Headache

Back of the head and neck

Unknown

Severe Headache

Muscle Relaxants

None

Anti-inflammatory Medicines

12

Chronic Headache

Generalized in head

Migraine Headaches

Severe Headaches that lasts more than 20 days in a month

Painkillers

Preventing the type of headaches that act as a cause

Tension Headaches

13

Eyestrain Headache

Frontal portion of head

Stress on eyes

Eye Pain

Painkillers

Resting your eyes

Less Sleep

Red and watery eyes

Proper sleeping routine

Too much screen time

14

Hunger Headache

Generalized in head

Skipping meals

Pain in the head prior to eating

Balanced diet

Same as treatment

Low blood sugar

15

Exertion Headache

Both sides of head

Too much mental and physical exertions

Pain in head

Painkillers

Adjusting your exercise routine

Body Fatigue

Limiting physical and mental exertion

Muscle spasms

16

Hormone Headache

One-sided headache

Hormonal imbalance

Headache

Staying Hydrated

Staying Stress-free

Loss of appetite

Massage and relaxation

Anti-depressants

Joint pain

Physical exercise to regulate hormonal balance

Doing the things that make you feel good

Irritation

17

Hangover Headache

Migraines like

Abuse of alcohol and other drugs

Headache

Doing anti-hangover activities

Avoiding overdose of alcohol and other drugs

Physical imbalance

Fresh Lime

Blurred vision

18

Tumor Headache

Adjacent to the location of tumor

Tumor

Worsens with time

Surgery

None

Vomiting

Radiotherapy

Vision problems

Speech problems

Migraine

One of the most common types of headaches and is caused by genetic factors, smoking. Emotional stress and other factors listed in the table. Migraine’s location is either on one side of your head or at the top and back side of your head. For effective treatment, you can use medicines, a dose of caffeine, steroids, and analgesics. The symptoms of this pain include severe pain, nausea, cold hands and numbness in arms.

Allergy Headache

Allergy headaches happen due to certain allergens in your surroundings. The allergens can be pollen or other allergens like smell or dust. Such headaches are spread throughout your head and are indicated by symptoms like nasal congestion and watery eyes. There is no preventive measure against this type of headache but you can use antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays, and desensitization injections to reduce the impact of allergy and ultimately alleviate the headache.

Cluster Headache

Cluster headache happens in or around one eye at a time. It is most commonly caused by excessive smoking and too much alcohol drinking. It is accompanied by symptoms like flushing of face, restlessness and stuffed nose. Cluster headache is treated by inhaling extra oxygen and with the help of local anesthetics. It can be prevented by steroids and calcium channel blockers.

Tension Headache

As the name suggests, this type of headache is linked to tension, stress, and depression. The targeted areas of the head are forehead and top of the head. Symptoms include tightness of head, scalp, and neck. It can be treated with the help of painkillers and avoided by staying stress-free.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Headache

It is caused by jaw muscle problems and too much chewing. This type of headache targets the temporal region of the head and its symptoms are pain or clicking in the jaw muscles. its treatment and prevention are the same and you can relax your jaw muscle and sleep properly in order to get rid of it.

Sinus Headache

If you are having pain in your sinus and front side of your head, you are suffering from sinus headache. Caused by sinus infections and nasal blockages, its signs are fever and blockage of nasal passage along with a mild headache. Doctors usually treat sinus headache with antibiotics, decongestants and may use surgical drainage if the case is severe. Unfortunately, there is no method to prevent it.

Hypertension Headache

Hypertension Headache is spread throughout the head and is mainly caused by high blood pressure. The best way to deal with it is by taking medications and diet that help in lowering the blood pressure. You can avoid this type of headache by staying tension free and making sure that your blood pressure stays in the normal range.

Giant Cell Arteritis Headache

It targets the area around your ears and is caused by the inflammation of temporal arteries. Symptoms include temporal pain, jaw pain, weight loss, and vision problems. Doctors usually prescribe steroids as medicines to deal with this headache.

Medication Overuse Headache

It is a migraine style headache and happens due to side effects or prolonged use of medicines. Such pain is usually chronic and you can avoid it by carefully choosing your medicines with the advice of your doctor.

Post-traumatic Headache

This type of headache is a result of trauma, loss or suffering from an accident. This is characterized by nausea and mild headache around the head or at one side. Anti-seizure medicines are the best way to deal with the headache on a short term basis. Counselling is the best way to avoid these pains after you have gone through a trauma.

Arthritis Headache

The causes of this type of headache are still unknown. Its location is back of the head and neck and it is very severe. As there is no known cause, there is no specific prevention method and treatment other than muscle relaxants.

Chronic Headache

Chronic headaches target the entire area of your head and usually last regularly for long periods of time. Its causes are migraines and tension headaches and are treated by painkillers

Eyestrain Headache

The causes are stress on eyes, less sleep and too much screen time. The symptoms include eye pain, red and watery eyes. As it is linked with eyes so it targets the areas of your head around your eyes. You can avoid this type of headache by avoiding stress on your eyes and proper sleeping.

Hunger Headache

Hunger headache generally targets the entire area of your head. The main causes behind this headache are skipping meals and low blood sugar levels. The symptoms are a pain in the head only before your belly is empty. It can be treated by taking aspirin for immediate results and in the long term, you can ensure that you do not skip meals and take a balanced diet.

Exertion Headache

Exertion headache is a result of too much physical and mental activity and happens on both sides of the head. It is also accompanied by body fatigue and muscle spasms. The most common method to treat this headache is painkillers and it can be prevented by adjusting your exercise routine and reduce physical exertion.

Hormone Headache

A one-sided headache and happens due to some kind of hormonal imbalance in your body. It can also cause you joint pain, lack of appetite and general irritation of your mood. Massage, physical exercise and drinking more water can help while treating this type of headache.

Hangover Headache

People who abuse alcohol are aware if this type of headache. It feels like migraine and is accompanied by physical imbalance and blurred vision. Drinking more water and a glass of fresh lime can help in lifting the hangover. The best way to prevent this type of headache is not to do overdose of alcohol.

Tumour Headache

Tumor Headache is a very rare form of headache and results after a tumor has been developed and targets the area adjacent to the site of the tumor. This headache develops with time and can become very problematic after some time has elapsed. Its symptoms include vomiting, speech and vision problems as well. The best way to deal with this headache is the removal of the tumor through surgery or radiotherapy.

Interesting Causes of Headaches

Some of the causes of headaches are very obvious and clear as already mentioned in the table. However, we have indicated some lesser known reasons behind headaches that are common to all types of headaches. These causes act more like a trigger for the onset of headaches.

Body Posture – Your posture is directly linked to the headaches. Improper standing, sitting, sleeping postures can put strain and tension on your neck and back, this can cause a headache. Sometimes a wrong way to bend over, sitting on a chair that is not comfortable and does not have proper back support can also trigger headaches. If you are suffering from chronic headaches, you might want to reconsider your posture.

Chewing Gum – You might be surprised by reading this, chewing gum for a longer period of times can tire your jaw muscles and this can lead to headaches. The artificial sweeteners in most of the chewing gums are not healthy also ad can also trigger headaches. You must reduce the time you chew gums and check if your headache’s intensity lessens or remains the same.

3D Technology – Reports have suggested that 3D technology can trigger headaches in many people. If your 3D screen time is too much and you suffer from headaches, you need to reduce it. Too much screen time is also not good for your eyes.

Strong Scents – People who are allergic to strong scents like perfume, the smell of paints and petrol can also have an onset of headache if the inhale the smell for long periods of time. If you are allergic to such smells, you need to make sure that such scents are not in your environment.

Weather Changes – Weather could also be a reason behind the triggering of headaches in many people. Hot and humid water can make you dehydrated if you do not drink enough water on a hot day. Make sure that you drink enough water when the mercury is on the high side. Staying hydrated is very important for your health as well.

Conclusion

We are sure that you will be able to identify the culprit behind your headache according to the exact location and will be able to treat them accordingly. Headaches can usually be treated by home remedies and over the counter pain relievers. If you are unable to get rid of your headache after trying home remedies and pain killers, we recommend that you pay a visit to your doctor for proper medical treatment.